Two errant tugboats, eight crew members detained

MIRI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two tugboats and their eight crew members in the Miri Maritime Zone.

The vessels were intercepted 3.7 nautical miles west of the Lutong coast during routine patrols under Operation Permai and Operation Tiris.

Miri Maritime Zone director, Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the crew members, all Malaysian nationals aged between 20 and 56, were working on the tugboats at the time of detention.

The vessels and crew have been taken to the Vessel Detention Centre for further processing and will be handed over to the investigating officer for further action.

The case is being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 for failure to present a domestic shipping license (DSL) during the inspection.

Mohd Khairol emphasized that the MMEA remains committed to enforcing maritime laws and will not tolerate any infractions at sea.